The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general and a seasoned prosecutor, as President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, with a vote of 54-46 Tuesday evening.
Notably, Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania crossed party lines to support her nomination, highlighting a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, reported Fox News.
Throughout her lengthy confirmation hearing, Bondi, 59, emphasized her commitment to depoliticizing the Justice Department, asserting, “Politics has to be taken out of this system.”
Her nomination received wide support for her ability to handle complex and sensitive issues. Over 110 former senior Justice Department officials—spanning both parties—endorsed her experience and collaborative approach.
“It is all too rare for senior Justice Department officials — much less Attorneys General — to have such a wealth of experience in the day-to-day work of keeping our communities safe,” former Justice Department officials wrote in a letter, reported Fox.
A former Florida prosecutor, Bondi has served as a prominent spokesperson for Trump. She questioned the validity of the 2020 election results and condemned prosecutors in other areas who brought charges against Mr. Trump, reported The New York Times.
Her former colleagues in Florida expect her to focus strongly on combating drug trafficking and addressing the fentanyl crisis in her new role.
Dave Aronberg, a Democrat who previously challenged Bondi, expressed his initial surprise at her post-election outreach and commended her persistence in the face of political challenges. He voiced confidence in Bondi’s potential to realign the Justice Department’s focus toward effective policy rather than politics.
“I will restore integrity to the Justice Department and I will fight violent crime throughout this country and throughout this world, and I will make America safe again,” Bondi said, reported CBS News.
“Under my watch, the partisanship, the weaponization, will be gone. America will have one tier of justice for all.”